Ride The Waves and Ripples set for thrilling showdown

Trainer Steve Telfer says Ride The Waves is ready to take charge of her own destiny at Alexandra Park tonight.

And she might have to if she is to fend off the trans-Tasman challenge of Queensland Oaks winner Ripples, who is a shock entry tonight for the Auckland meeting.

The pair clash in a stacked Nevele R heat for the three-year-old pacing fillies (8.39pm) and while they were close in the TAB opening markets they have vastly different experience levels.

Ripples may only be a second-season filly but this is her fourth trip to New Zealand from her Sydney base while she has rarely missed a big race back home, having already had 20 career starts.

She hasn’t raced since winning the Queensland Oaks in July but has been fitted for tonight with two strong trials at Menangle and could have been favourite but for drawing barrier 8 for champion trainer-driver Luke McCarthy.

“She is ready and I am really happy with her but realise it is not an easy draw,” says McCarthy.

That outside starting position  puts her three spots wider than Ride The Waves (R8, No.5) and the latter’s co-trainer Telfer realises the importance of maintaining that advantage.

“She is ready to be driven hard and try to dominate,” says Telfer, who trains with his sister Amanda.

Ride The Waves is having only her seventh start tonight but rates as the most exciting pacing filly in the country with four wins so far and an enormous second to race rival Fly High last start when she was wide for the entire race.

Put her against the marker pegs in front tonight and it is going to take a special filly to beat her so Telfer says that is the plan.

“She is a lovely relaxed filly and also very smart so we’d be happy to see Maurice [McKendry, driver] go forward and stay in front,” says Telfer.

“While she had a hard run last start she has bounced out of that really well and is ready to go again.”

The race has plenty of depth but is still hard to imagine if the two favourites find themselves at the front end of the field one of their rivals could come around them and beat them both.

Telfer says he expects an improved performance tonight from another of the stable’s high-class three-year-olds in Secret Beach, who contests the last race.

“Nothing went his way last week but he has come through that well and he will be hard to beat.”

Secret Beach has shown Derby-level staying ability and can win tonight but may not be perfectly suited by the mobile mile, especially with favourite Lulana likely to lead or at worst trail.

Tonight’s meeting could see multi punters go on the attack with the likes of Signman (R1, No.1), Cyclone Miki (R3, No.3), Georgie Best (R5, No.4) and Franco Ronaldo (R6, No.5) all likely to be popular before punters even get to the last two races.

To see the Auckland fields click here

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand